The Official U.S. Maple Syrup Almanac 2015 | Page 23

MICHIGAN MAPLE SYRUP ASSOCIATION * 6903 South Lacey Lake Road, Bellevue, MI 49021-8403, [phone], [email protected], www.mi-maplesyrup.com SUMMARY OF SEASON S outhern Mid Michigan: 2015 season started late for us in southern MI, but not as late as last year. We averaged about .35 gallons per tap. We had great sap flow, but terrible sugar content. Started at 1.5% and never saw above 2.5%. Last boil was on April 8th. We made no Golden, just Amber, Dark Amber. Another observation for us was very little sugar sand the whole season. Other sugar makers in southern MI stated same low sugar content in trees in woods and higher sugar content on the road side trees. North West Michigan: The 2015 syrup season was average in Charlevoix. We produced .33 gallons per tap. The season started quickly on March 7th with 50 degree weather. The previous Thursday it was 28 degrees below zero. First few runs were less than 1 percent sugar and the syrup was dark amber/ with good med to light amber flavor. Slow till the last week in March and then we had many good runs. The syrup lightened up to fancy on March 31st. The syrup turned dark on April 10th and quit on April 13th. The buds on the trees were still tight but with no freeze for 5 days the season was over. Boyne Falls producers reported less than average with 900 gallons, they usually make 1200. North East Michigan: We first tapped on March 7, 2015. Started the year out with sugar content of 1.1% and after 4 days it was up to 1.7% where it stayed pretty much for rest of year. Our last boil was on April 12th. Possibly could have made more dark syrup as U.S. Maple Syrup Almanac 2015 The Tassier Family outside of their sugarhouse in Cedarville, Mich. on Feb. 13. The family specializes in Maple Brew Bar-B-Que and other value added products. the trees hadn’t budded yet but the crew was done. We didn’t get any Golden syrup this year – one or two boils were in the light end of Amber but most right in the middle of the Amber. Only last boil would be considered Dark and even then it had a good flavor. Flavor was great all season. Towards the middle of seaso